Today’s Big Ten Tournament semifinal game between Purdue and Wisconsin was a physical one that culminated in a 76-75 Badgers win. But there was one moment in the waning stages of the game involving Zach Edey that had Badgers fans furious.
Late in the game, Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl tried to drive towards the net for the layup with Edey bearing down on him. As Wahl tried to jump though, Edey stuck his arm out and around Wahl’s neck.
However, when the ball fell out of Wahl’s hands and out of play, the officials called it a turnover rather than issue a foul to Edey.
YOU MAKE THE CALL👀⁉️⬇️
This was called a turnover on Wisconsin. Did Zach Edey commit a foul here?🫣⬇️
pic.twitter.com/egbcKiiPhS— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 16, 2024
Wisconsin fans have been complaining about Edey receiving preferential treatment for a good portion of the night but this play really sent things over the top. Here are just some of the reactions to this particular play:
“Of course he did. But it’s Edey so it’s clean,” one user wrote.
“Obvious foul that no honest ref could miss,” another declared.
“It’s a foul on every other big,” a third wrote.
Fortunately for the Badgers fans, the team was able to force overtime and then eke out a one-point win to secure their trip to the Big Ten Championship Game against the winner of tonight’s game between Illinois and Nebraska.
But college hoops teams are probably going to be watching the officiating in Purdue’s next NCAA Tournament game for similar incidents and how they’re called. If something like this happens during March Madness, there’s going to be a lot more complaints about preferential treatment for Edey.